Sovereignly Blessed1 Corinthians 12:11
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
Thoughts for Today:If the Lord chooses to use us as His instrument for healing; if we speak prophetically with words of great wisdom and insight; or if we see miracles accompanying each of our steps in ministry -- Paul is very careful to say -- it is because the Lord sovereignly chose to bless us. This, rather than anything we earned or deserved through our own effort. Yet, sometimes we let a little pride creep in to infiltrate and spoil our efforts.
Numbers 20:10-12: "He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, 'Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?' Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.'"
The warning to us is much the same. We have to be careful to not think or say, "Look at me. See what I'm doing athletically, in ministry, how much money I'm making, or how successful I've become." When we start taking the credit, we've already received our reward. And like Moses, we prevent ourselves from entering the Promised Land and truly enjoying the great blessings God has planned for us.
Questions to Ponder:Are you enjoying the blessings God has provided? To whom do you give the credit? Is it to your own innate ability or God's grace and mercy?
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
Thoughts for Today:If the Lord chooses to use us as His instrument for healing; if we speak prophetically with words of great wisdom and insight; or if we see miracles accompanying each of our steps in ministry -- Paul is very careful to say -- it is because the Lord sovereignly chose to bless us. This, rather than anything we earned or deserved through our own effort. Yet, sometimes we let a little pride creep in to infiltrate and spoil our efforts.
Numbers 20:10-12: "He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, 'Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?' Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.'"
The warning to us is much the same. We have to be careful to not think or say, "Look at me. See what I'm doing athletically, in ministry, how much money I'm making, or how successful I've become." When we start taking the credit, we've already received our reward. And like Moses, we prevent ourselves from entering the Promised Land and truly enjoying the great blessings God has planned for us.
Questions to Ponder:Are you enjoying the blessings God has provided? To whom do you give the credit? Is it to your own innate ability or God's grace and mercy?
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